By Johnathan Paoli
The Madlanga Commission has postponed the much-anticipated testimony of alleged tender kingpin and attempted murder accused Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, citing heightened public and media interest surrounding his evidence.
In a media advisory issued late on Sunday, commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed the postponement.
“Due to the heightened media and public interest in the testimony of Mr Vusimuzi Matlala, the Commission wishes to advise that whilst Mr Matlala has been subpoenaed to appear before it on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, the evidence leaders will request that his testimony be postponed to a date to be determined,” Michaels said.
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He said that Matlala would no longer appear in person before the commission, but his legal representative will instead be physically present.
The announcement marks a significant development in the commission’s investigation into alleged criminal infiltration of the criminal justice system, with Matlala widely regarded as one of its most pivotal witnesses.
Last week, Michaels confirmed that Matlala had formally been subpoenaed to appear before the inquiry, while stressing the sensitivity surrounding the arrangements.
“The commission can confirm that Mr Vusimusi Matlala has been subpoenaed to appear before the commission. We don’t want to say much more than that at this point. Needless to say, Mr Matlala is a central figure in the commission’s enquiry and the arrangements around and preparation for his appearance is obviously extremely sensitive,” he said.
Asked how the commission intended to balance Matlala’s anticipated testimony with his ongoing criminal matters and reported plea negotiations, Michaels declined to elaborate.
“Clearly, as you say, it is a complex matter. And I really do not want to get into what will eventually, no doubt, be ventilated before the commission. So aside from confirming his appearance next Tuesday, and of course, that he had been issued with a subpoena accordingly, we are not going to say anything more. And let’s see how it unfolds next week,” he said.
Michaels also dismissed suggestions that the commission had struggled to gain access to Matlala, insisting speculation surrounding the issue was unfounded.
“I’m not sure where that comes from. As far as we are concerned, that is pure speculation. The commission has very clear terms of reference. And we are conducting ourselves and our enquiry accordingly within those terms of reference,” he said.
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“Mr Matlala is a central figure in the commission’s inquiry. And whatever sideshows there may be, we are squarely focused on what it is that we have been charged with doing in terms of our mandate. The theatrics and drama is not our forte,” he said.
Michaels also refused to disclose the security arrangements for Matlala’s expected appearance, noting that he would have been the first incarcerated witness to testify before the commission.
Despite Matlala’s postponement, Michaels indicated last week that the commission remained under pressure to conclude its work before its 31 August deadline.
Last week that the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court rejected a proposed plea and sentence agreement in Matlala’s Medicare24 case, after the state proposed a 15-year sentence with seven years suspended. The matter was postponed to July 13 for further deliberations on the court’s proposed effective 12-year sentence.
